Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2246. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to abandon proposals to amalgamate Galway city and county council in view of the recent decision regarding Cork city and county council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28644/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Expert Advisory Group review on Local Government Arrangements in Galway is carrying out detailed examination and planning in relation to local government arrangements in Galway arising from the 2015 report of the Galway Local Government Committee (published in October 2016), which unanimously recommended the establishment of a new unified “Greater Galway Authority”.  An interim report by the Expert Advisory Group was submitted to me on 19 June and will now be considered in my Department.

The position in light of the interim report will be reflected in the wider report on local government which, under the Programme for Partnership Government, is being proposed for submission to Government and the Oireachtas. Preparation of this report is continuing in my Department with a view to its completion later in the Summer.

In the case of the local authority arrangements in Cork, the Cork Expert Advisory Group concluded that, on balance, an expanded City Council area offered the best governance model for Cork.